Fishing rod



C. HEDDON June 5, 1934.

FISHING ROD Filed DGO. 25, 1932 Patented June 5, 1934- PATENT OFFICE FISHING ROD Charles Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich., assignor to James lleddona Sons, Dowagiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 23, 1932, Serial No. 848,546

This invention relates to a tubular flexible steel Y weight, improved flexation, and uniformity in temper from end to end. These several objects. as well as others to be hereinafter disclosed, are attained by a fishing rod of which certainsuggestive modifications are illustrated in the `accompanying drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rod flexed laterally. as when in use;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the butt portion of the rod;

Fig. 2* is a longitudinal section through th intermediate portion of the rod.

Fig. 2b is a longitudinal section through the tip portion of the rod; i

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlargedvtransverse sections taken, respectively, on lines 3, 4, and 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section, twice broken, through a rod of modified construction. I

The present shing rod is of tubular metallic formation made desirably by drawing operations. Its walls are accordingly circumferentially continuous throughout the length of the rod. or any sectional unit thereof. Such a construction is not only lighter than other rods of corresponding dimensions made of solid steel, but is strong- `er as well. In addition, the walls of the present rod are preferably formed of increasing thickness from the diametrically larger butt end to the smaller tip end so as to dispose a greater mass of metal in relation to diameter toward the tip end where the rod would-otherwisebe weakest. Besides conferring upon the rod a reinforcement in the region most needed, such Idisposition of the metal in the walls conduces to greater strength r`under iiexation; i. e., a lateral bending to and from straight position through an arc which normally decreases in radius toward the tip end of the rod. l

`Referring to Figures 1 to 5, I have here shown grips G affixed to a handle H adapted for attachment to the butt end b of a tubular rod R of steel produced desirably by drawing operations. 'I'he butt end of the rod is shaped cylindrically or otherwise for convenient connection with the handle; proceeding from the butt, the rod is swelled by being progressively reduced in diameter through a curved taper within a region denoted by s; and beyond the curved taper the rod tapers gradually and evenly throughout the remainder of its length which ends with the tip t. Carrled upon the rod exterior are suitable guide t- (ci. 4341s) tings F, through which is inserted a line L having one end made fast to a reel W which is secured to the handle.

The thickness of the walls ofa rod so formed is in the present instance increased gradually and progressively throughout its length. At its larger or butt end the wall thickness is the least; this increases gradually as the diameter decreases until in the region of the tip the walls may be so thickened as to lie adjacent to or almost in contact with each other internally, so that the inner bore in the tip region is reduced in diameter to less than the adjacent wall thicknesses or the walls of the bore may be in contact in the tip region. Accordingly, the area of metal exposed at any given cross section of the rod preferably increases in ratio to the vdiameter as the rod diameter decreases, the ratio therebetween being determined according to the design and specifications which are selected for the rod.

In Fig. 6 I have depicted in longitudinal section, with breaks as indicated, a rod R', of integral construction, in that it is formed of drawn tubular steel with walls increasing progressively in thickness toward the tip end t' which is of reduced diameter. Exteriorly and interiorly the surfaces of the rod herein disclosed are tapered endwise away from each other as they approach the tip, thereby providing for a gradual increase in the thickness o f its walls.

In the construction of Fig. 6, I may dispense with a swell adjacent to the butt end b', starting the taper which continues evenly with no substantial change right from the end of the butt through to the tin. Such a rod is comparable to the vsplit bamboo casting rod of the present day in the manner of its behavior, in that in casting or retrieving it is flexed from end to end, the radius of itsjcurvature decreasing as the rod diameter becomes smaller.

In the rod herein described it is possible to accurately apply a uniform tempering treatment, from end to end. This results from the increased wall thickness in the region of the tip, which may be sumcient to counterbalance, in whole or in part, the decreased diameter of the rod in this same region. A rod so constructed and proportioned may be evenly tempered from end to end as the mass of metal to be treated is distributed with substantial uniformity both longitudinally and circumferentially.

Moreover, the peculiarities of a fishing rod require that the exibility shall progressively increase from the butt to the tip without sacrifice of strength and without at any point so weakening the rod as to permit buckling under strain. These requirements are fully satisfied in the present invention, since the diameter of the bore in the region of the tip in ratio to the wall thickness is such as to wholLv prevent the possibility of buckling by inward collapse, under strain, and at the same time the relatively small overall diameter in the tip region progressively increases the flexibility of the rod in any ratio which may be desired and which can be obtained by proper disposition of the metal in conformity with the principles of the present invention. In most cases it is preferred to progressively thicken the walls toward the tip end and to progressively reduce the diameter of the interior bore, so that in the tip region the bore is of minute dimensions, although the present invention may find embodiment in a construction in which the diameter of the bore is no greater than the diameter of the contiguous walls and without the necessity for thickening the walls progressively toward the tip.

This progressive reduction of the diameter of the bore relatively to the wall thickness to the extent where the combined wall thickness exceeds the adjacent bore diameter gives to the tip portion of the rod certain of the desirable characteristics of a solid rod, in that buckling or collapse toward the interior is impossible, and at the same time the structure throughout retains the desirable characteristics of a tubular formation, in that the presence of the inner bore facilitates the redistribution of metal incidental to increasingly pronounced ilexation, so that the danger of rupture of the metal is reduced in comparison with a solid rod of similar dimensions.

The structure is thus one which affords an adequate diameter at or near the butt to aord the necessary stiffness and resistance to buckling, in conjunction with progressive flexibility toward the tip and with the possibility of at all points computing the ratio of wall thickness to bore diameter in such a way as to meet individual requirements or preferences as to balance, flexibility and weight.

The resulting rod is one which in high degree embodies the desirable life or spring of a high grade bamboo rod combined with the strength and durability ordinarily characteristic of a solid steel rod, and both of these desirable characteristics may be embodied in a rod which is even lighter in weight than the best bamboo rods now available, and stronger than the solid steel rod.

Because of the several characteristics noted, attained by a rod having the improved features of construction herein described, the present invention is advantageous in ways which will be appreciated by those experienced in the use of fishing rods. Accordingly, I desire to be protected inv the constructions herein disclosed, or any others embodying similar features of construction, as dened by the claims below.

I claim:

1. A light and flexible tubular metallic fishing rod tapered from butt toward the tip and having the walls progressively thickening toward the tip, the wall thickness at the tip region being greater than one half the diameter of the adjacent bore, giving to the tip region of the tubular rod the functional characteristics of a solid rod.

2. A flexible metallic fishing rod of drawn circular seamless tubing tapered from the butt toward the tip, the bore of the tip region being substantially closed by a greater weight of metal in ratio to the diameter than in its butt and the walls of the bore at the tip being in contact resisting a tendency to inward buckling in the tip region.

3. A flexible metallic fishing rod of tapering tubular construction having the walls progressively thickening and the diameter progressively decreasing toward the tip, and the diameter of the bore in the tip region being less than the combined thickness of the walls, giving to thel tip region the functional characteristics of a solid rod in resisting a tendency to buckle inwardly.

4. A flexible metallic fishing rod of drawn circular seamless tubing of tapering construction having the walls progressively thickening and the diameter progressively decreasing toward the tip, and the diameter of the bore in the tip region being less than the combined thickness of the walls, giving to the tip region the functional characteristics of a solid rod in resisting a tendency to buckle inwardly.

5. A flexible metallic fishing rod of drawn seamless tubing of tapering construction having the walls progressively thickening and the diameter progressively decreasing toward the tip, and having the bore of the tip portion reduced to less than the combined wall thickness of the tip portion, giving to the tip region the functional characteristics of a solid rod.

6. A flexible metallic fishing rod tapered from the butt to the tip and having a bore extending therethrough, the wall thickness in the butt region being less than the diameter of the adjacent bore, and the wall thickness in the tip region being greater than in the butt region and more than one half the diameter of the bore at the tip region substantially closing the bore therethrough giving to the tip region the functional characteristics of a solid rod.

'7. A flexible metallic fishing rod of drawn seamless tubing tapered from the butt to the tip and having a greater degree of taper in the butt region than in the tip region, the wall thickness in the butt region being less than in the tip region, and the walls of the bore in the tip region being in substantial contact by the convergence of the thickening walls closing the bore at the tip and giving to the tip region the strength of a solid rod.

8. A light and fiexible fishing rod of tubular tapered metal having substantially uniform temper from end to end and having the strength of a solid rod in its tip region, the rod Walls being circular inside and outside and homogeneous at every point about its axis whereby to provide an even resistance to bending in every radial plane, the outside diameter of the rod being greatest at or near the butt end and tapering inwardly and evenly toward the tip end, the internal surface of the rod being tapered evenly but more rapidly than the outside surface whereby the thickness of the walls is increased gradually and progressively toward the tip end of the rod closing the bore at the tip, the rod being flexible laterally through a curve which is determined in part by the varying diameters and wall thicknesses along the length of the rod.

9. A light and flexible metallic fishing rod of tapered tubular formation having a functionally solid tip, the tubular Wall of the butt section being relatively abruptly flared outwardly toward the butt end in the form of a swell and the remainder of the tubular wall being gradually tapered and internally thickened so as to contact at the tip, and a handle connected to the flared butt end of the rod.

10. A light and flexible metallic fishing rod of seamless drawn tubular formation and tapering from the butt toward the tip, the tubular wail of the butt section being relatively abruptly tiered outwardly toward the butt end in the form ot a swell and the reminder o! the tubular wall being gradually tapered and internally thickened toward the tip, the diameter of the bore in the tip region being less than the combined thickness of the walls, and the walls ot the bore at the tip being in non-adhering contact, giving to the tip region the functional characteristics of a. solid rod in resisting a tendency to buckle inwardly and a handle connected to the ilared butt end of the rod.

CHARLES HEDDON. 

